How to choose a tipping container: capacity and load rating

If you need to collect swarf, offcuts or loose material and empty it without touching it, you need a tipping container that can be lifted with a forklift. In the AMES collection, capacities range from 285 to 1350 litres and load ratings from about 580 to 2400 kg. For workshop swarf, the painted steel container on castors, from 300 to 1350 litres, is the most common choice. For heavier materials or site use, look at the forklift tipping skips.

The types

• Tipping container on castors for swarf. A painted sheet steel bin that is moved by hand when empty or by forklift, and emptied by tipping it. It is the model for machine shops and turning departments. Example: the Fervi C030/0300, the smallest in the series, which goes up to the C030/1350.
• Forklift tipping skip. Mounted on the forks and emptied from above the collection point. It is used where the material is heavy or the route is long, for example the CE-certified Sall tipping skips.
• Polyethylene container. Lighter and immune to rust, suited to materials that do not cut and are not too heavy. One example is the Butti polyethylene container.
• Liftable basket and Servipak crate. Containers to be lifted and emptied with the truck, such as the Butti Servipak crate.
• Drop-side container and trays. Versions with a side that lowers, or a reduced size, for small loads and for easy access to the contents.

How to choose by job

In any case, start from the equipment you have: the capacity and load rating of the full container must fall within the rated capacity of the truck or lift, at the load centre distance of the forks.

The features to look at

• Capacity (litres). The collection offers 300, 500, 750, 1000 and 1350 litres, plus a few 285-litre sizes. It tells you how much material fits, not how much it weighs.
• Load rating (kg). The maximum load of the container, from about 580 to 2400 kg depending on the model. With heavy materials, such as oil-soaked swarf, the load rating is reached before the volume is full.
• Material. Painted steel for heavy and sharp loads, polyethylene for lighter materials and damp environments.
• Overall dimensions. The A, B, C, E, F dimensions on the product page let you check that the container fits through the doors, sits under the discharge point and has fork pockets at the height of the forks. Check them before ordering.
• Castors. Handy for moving the empty or nearly full container over short distances. For heavy loads, transport is left to the truck.

Common mistakes

• Looking only at litres. A 1000-litre container full of metal can exceed its load rating. Calculate the weight of the material, not just the volume.
• Overloading above the rim. Load that sticks out falls at the first movement and makes tipping unstable.
• Releasing the tipping lock away from the discharge point. Release it only when the container is above the discharge point and nobody is nearby.
• Neglecting maintenance. The release lever, the lock and the castors must be checked at regular intervals: a lock that does not hold is a serious risk.
• Choosing without looking at the truck. The fork pockets and the rated capacity of the truck must be compatible with the container.

Frequently asked questions

What capacity do I need for swarf?

It depends on how much you produce between two emptyings. For a single machine, 300-500 litres is often enough; for a department, go up to 750-1350 litres, provided the truck can carry the weight.

Can a tipping container be used without a forklift?

Models with castors can be moved by hand when empty, but tipping and lifting require a forklift or a lift truck. Once full, it must not be moved by hand.

Steel or polyethylene?

Steel for heavy, sharp or hot materials; polyethylene for light materials and where not rusting matters. If you are unsure about the material to be collected, ask the technicians.

How often should they be checked?

At regular intervals and whenever you notice play or unusual noises. Check the release lever, the lock and the castors.

You will find all the models in the Drop-Bottom and Tipping Containers collection: if you are not sure which capacity or load rating you need, ask the AMES technicians for a quote or advice.